Tokyo: Oreimo

On his second visit, Ryosuke began to carefully observe his surroundings.

The entire room is about 50 square meters, with a separate bathroom and kitchen, and the remaining part is a large, complete room.

However, the presence of those tall cabinets covered with black cloth made the space feel somewhat cramped.

If Ling Nai confirms his willingness to cooperate, as a partner, he wouldn't mind contributing some funds to support him.

"Three hundred thousand."

Ryosuke was taken aback.

"what?"

"I said the monthly rent here is around 300,000 yen. Are you deaf?"

Takashiro Ryouno glanced over with considerable impatience.

Ryosuke wasn't that he didn't hear clearly, he just doubted whether he had misheard.

Are you kidding me? This is Sakae Town, Chiba Prefecture.

The rent for a typical vacant detached house in the surrounding area is no more than this, so why is this ordinary apartment so expensive?

However, Ryosuke felt relieved when he remembered how much cash was under Ryōno's bed.

Judging from the fact that the girl in front of me was tricked into signing a manuscript contract by Iori Setsuna, she probably didn't carefully investigate the rent in the surrounding area when she rented the room.

It's obvious they were ripped off.

If he were a middleman, he would probably love this kind of client—high pay, low hassle, and not particularly bright.

"Until when does the lease expire?"

Thinking about this, Ryosuke felt he needed to stop his younger sister from continuing to squander money, so he asked again.

Ling Nai sat down at the workbench, rummaging through the drawers for manuscript paper as she replied, "I just rented it not long ago, probably until the second half of next year. You're so long-winded, don't interrupt my train of thought."

The blonde girl pulled out a brand new stack of manuscript paper and slammed it on the workbench, glaring fiercely at Ryosuke.

What? Are you just making conversation for the sake of it?

The scene I had just envisioned in my mind was ruined by his few words. I should have known better than to bring him.

He really is an annoying guy.

"There's a sofa over there, you can sleep there for a while. From now on, don't talk to me."

Takashiro Ryou pointed to the right side of the workbench, where she had specially set up a rest area. She usually rested there when she got tired of drawing.

There were also two Hello Kitty cushions on the sofa.

Ryosuke wisely shut up and quietly sat down on the sofa.

"You've already gotten into work mode so quickly?"

His gaze was fixed on the blonde girl. Apart from their breathing, the only other sound in the room was the scratching of a pen on paper.

Takashiro Ryouno focused all her attention on the pen in her hand, her brows unconsciously relaxing and a smile gradually spreading across her face.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the girl as if she were wearing a golden wedding dress.

Ryosuke rested his chin on his hand, leaned back on the sofa, and watched with unbridled enjoyment.

His younger sister really loves painting, and this is the first time he has ever seen her smile like that in all the time he has been in this blended family.

As the indoor temperature gradually rose with the help of the air conditioner, Ryosuke felt a wave of warmth, and the sleepiness that had been dispelled returned.

"She should paint for a while, so let her take a short break."

As Takashiro Ryosuke pondered this, he closed his eyes, leaned back on the sofa, and fell into a deep sleep.

...

Two hours later, Takashiro Ryouno put down her pen, looked at the several sketches in front of her, and stretched with satisfaction.

"As expected of me, I was able to draw these sketches so quickly."

On the manuscript paper, the characters who appeared in the first three episodes of Cardcaptor Sakura leapt off the page.

She didn't rush to create a drawing based on the NAME; she simply focused on creating the character's image.

Maybe it's different from what that guy was thinking. Let's wait until the final draft is completed before we start working on the original manuscript.

As Takagi Ryouno thought this, her gaze fell on Ryosuke.

"What? I'm working so hard on my drawings here, and he's fallen asleep again? Is he that tired?"

The girl carefully left the workbench, walked to the sofa, and squatted down.

She carefully examined Ryosuke's face.

The boy's handsome face was filled with a relaxed expression, completely unguarded.

"This guy's eyelashes are so long, it's enviable."

Ling Nai couldn't help but reach out and touch it, but Ryosuke wasn't awakened by it.

"She's sleeping so soundly." As if she had suddenly thought of something, a mischievous smile appeared on her face.

She quietly got up, took an oil-based pen from the workbench, and squatted back down.

Chapter 19 Playing Around

When Ryosuke woke up, it was already dark.

Outside the window, traffic bustles, but inside, it is quiet and peaceful, with only the scratching sound of a pen dipped in ink.

"How long have I slept?"

Ryosuke couldn't help but rub his eyes and yawn widely.

"About five hours."

Ling Nai seemed to be deliberately avoiding eye contact, looking down at the workbench, her shoulders trembling.

"Is it almost finished?"

Ryosuke stood up and moved closer to the workbench, where Ling Nai handed him a stack of manuscript papers.

Are you feeling unwell anywhere?

Ryosuke took the manuscript and noticed something was off about the other person.

Is this a sudden, serious illness, causing the whole body to tremble uncontrollably?

Takashiro Ryoko spun her chair, turned her back to Ryosuke, waved her hand, and stammered, "It's none of your business. You should look at the draft first."

"No, if you feel unwell, I'll take you to the hospital. Did you hurt yourself somewhere with the paintbrush?"

Ryosuke frowned deeply, forcefully turned Ling Nai's chair back, and squatted down to look at her face.

"ah!"

Takashiro Ryouno let out a gasp, and inevitably, the two locked eyes.

No, I can't hold it in any longer.

This guy has a turtle on his forehead and a circle drawn around his mouth; his appearance is just too funny.

Calm down! Takashiro Ryouno, you need to calm down!

The blonde girl tried to regulate her breathing, but her pretty face still flushed red, and her expression twisted uncontrollably.

Ryosuke looked at her strangely.

What's with this somewhat abstract expression?

Could it be that this adopted younger sister really has some kind of unknown serious illness?

Just as he was thinking this, Ryosuke noticed some black ink stains on the pads of his fingers.

As if confirming something, he followed Ling Nai's gaze and reached out to wipe his forehead.

My entire palm was covered in blackish-gray ink.

"No wonder, so you were trying not to laugh?"

Ryosuke Takagi breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Ryouno.

The other person shook their head and stubbornly said, "I don't understand what you're saying."

"is it?"

Since you enjoy playing, I'll play along.

Ryosuke glared at her, then stretched out his fingers and pulled open the corners of his mouth, making a face at her.

The ink smudged across his face, which, combined with his deliberately crossed eyes, made him look extremely comical.

Takashiro Ryouno instantly broke down, unable to hold back any longer, and burst into laughter.

"You like to draw on people's faces while they're asleep. Are you a child?"

Ryosuke said, seemingly helplessly.

He wasn't displeased; he just found it amusing. However, before today, Takashiro Ryouno had never acted so mischievously.

This kind of prank is something that only real siblings would do.

Ryosuke thought to himself as he reached out his ink-stained hand to touch the girl.

"You're the child! Don't come any closer! What are you trying to do?!"

Before Ling Nai could recover, the hand was already almost reaching the top of her head.

"Of course it's revenge, is there even a question?"

"You bastard, get away from me!"

Ling Nai rolled off the chair as if fleeing, hurriedly hid on the sofa, grabbed a cushion, and threw it at Liang Jie.

"A trivial skill."

Ryosuke easily dodged.

The two chased and fled in the confined space.